Outreach & Social Action

The Outreach and Social Action Committee undertakes education, advocacy and action about a wide variety of local, regional, and national issues, and works in partnership with various agencies and organizations to address systemic injustices as well as meet the needs of individuals. The Committee also offers between $8,000 and $10,000 each year to various partner groups, including, but not limited to, St. James’ Food Basket, Women’s Habitat, Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter, Out of the Cold, Kairos Canada, Youth Without Shelter, Jane Finch and Davenport Perth Community Ministries, Fred Victor Centre, Five Oaks Centre, Toronto United Church Camping Opportunities Fund, Anglican United Refugee Alliance (AURA), Partera International and the Etobicoke Youth Network.

We’ve concentrated efforts in the last few years on education and advocacy about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and their attempt to address, through truth-telling, compensation, etc. the legacy of abuse and suffering within the Indian Residential School system, as well as on assessing how we can more effectively connect with the community and develop partnerships that address real needs. We are active in our seeking of social justice by various means, in particular through established United Church-based and/or ecumenical programs, such as the United Church’s Unsettling Goods program, which advocates, through boycott of settlement goods, etc., for an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, or through the various initiatives of Kairos Canada. More Committee members are always welcome, and the current Chair is Roy Harvey, who can be contacted through the church office. We would welcome your solidarity with our charitable, direct service, and social justice pursuits, for we believe it is God’s intention and dream for all people to live in just, peaceful, and reconciled relationships.